April 13, 2020 Content Chat Recap: Self-Care For Content Marketers

Marketers can easily become consumed by work, constantly churning out new content or campaigns at an ever-increasing rate to keep up with audience needs or company goals. But when we only focus on what we can do for others and define our value on what we can provide, we lose sight of ourselves and our own needs.

Self-care is crucial for staying fresh and performing at our best, especially when there are significant stressors in your life like family turmoil, health ailments, or global crises. This week, the #ContentChat community discussed what self-care means for them and shared tips for restoring the balance between work and life. Read the full recap below, which includes ways to prioritize your self-care, practices all marketers should stop doing to support their wellness, and the resources that are helping us on our self-care journeys.

Q1: Let’s get things started by defining self-care, and why it’s something content marketers in particular need to be thinking about right now.

Exact definitions aside, self-care is about making choices that are meant to protect your wellbeing, which encompasses both your physical and mental health. Definitions can vary, so check out what self-care means to our community:

A1b: That’s why we need to make time for self-care, which I define as things you do or resolve not to do in order to keep you well and your life reflecting the balance you want and need. #ContentChat

A1: Self-care is anything that can help you center yourself and disassociate from things that bring you stress. A new self-care tactic I have installed in my day to day is to NOT work as soon as I get up. #contentchat

A1: Self-care can have a different definition for each individual. For some, it’s activities that allow them to release and channel emotions (stress, anxiety, fear, sadness) that may be affecting their day-to-day mental and physical health. #contentchat

A1) For me, self-care is anything you do personally to restore, recenter, and recharge. A lot of our job can be very timely and we find our selves stuck “in the trenches”. It’s important we are able to look up and recenter to avoid burnout #contentchat

Self-care is something that nourishes you – it usually involves taking a beat. I like my newsletter to feel like a breath of fresh air that people can enjoy at night with a glass of wine. #ContentChathttps://t.co/989xa3ud0g

A1: I view self-care as making choices and taking steps that preserve and nourish your wellbeing. Anything from setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, exercising, journaling, etc. can all work toward this (and I’m sure Q2 onward will touch on this). #ContentChat

Every person should practice self-care, especially during troubling times like we are facing. If we stop focusing on our wellbeing, we are more likely to become stressed or anxious, and those negative feelings carry into every interaction we have. By practicing self-care, you can more easily identify and address things that are causing you negative feelings.

A1B: Self-care is important because if you do not prioritize your wellbeing, other stressors will become amplified. Work can become more triggering, you may be irritable with loved ones, and especially with the current pandemic, we need to protect our sense of self. #ContetnChat

With our current pandemic, most of us have faced a disruption we never thought possible. Many marketers are faced with rebuilding their plans while also coping with the general state of our world. This can take a heavy toll on us, which is why self-care is important to keep us from slipping into negative thought cycles or habits (such as complete social isolation).

A1: As content marketers, most of us are having to rethink and rework our editorial plans for Q2, help out with crisis comms, and keep an eye on the news and social throughout the day… all of which can leave us a little stressed/burnt out as we shelter at home. #ContentChat

A1 Many content marketing professionals, I’d assume, are largely independent writer/editor-types. So it’s very easy for us to retreat to our solitude and quiet, which isn’t healthy. We need people and interaction. #contentchat

Also, marketers must stay on top of the latest trends and news to best provide value to their audiences. Given that we are experiencing information overload, a lot of which is negative news, this is incredibly taxing for marketers. Self-care can keep us focused and able to create quality content without sacrificing our wellbeing.

A1: Self-care is any action and process that helps you stay grounded and avoid burnout. For content marketers, the biggest struggle is the constant flow of information, which is in overdrive at the moment. #ContentChat

A1b: Why is it important? As content marketers, we have to be on the pulse of what our readers/followers are thinking about, and lately that means non-stop crisis comms + COVID-19. It can be mentally taxing. We need to take a break ourselves and step out of it. #contentchat

Q2: What are some strategies you’ve used to help understand and prioritize how you spend your time versus your work and personal goals?

Before you attempt to optimize your time, first allow yourself to not be productive if needed. By taking a reset, you can step back into work with a more clear mindset to tackle any challenges and pave a path for success. It helps to document any blockers you’re facing and how you’ll address them.

A2: Honestly, the first thing I did was to allow myself to not be productive. I needed to reset because it felt like everything was blurring. Now I’m experimenting with time-blocking and being vocal with my team on my needs. #ContentChat

Schedule your day to allow for a healthy balance between work and personal needs. This means adding your self-care activities to your calendar, and you can even use color-coding to quickly tell if your day is balanced.

A2b: Every day I block out time for the things I have to do. And in the free blocks, I make myself step away from the computer. Also, having a dog helps, b/c at least once per day, he wants to go outside and sit in a sunbeam with me. #ContentChat

A2b: Personally, I’ve been trying to block out more time on my calendar for self-care activities. And I mean actually blocking it out on my public Google calendar, so team members can see that I won’t be available. #contentchat

A2) Tracking my time through Google Calendar is helpful in understanding how much time is spent where. By using color codes for different activities, I can see at a quick glance if its balanced or not. Plus you can plan things out to give yourself structure #contentchat

To-do lists can keep you focused, and try to complete any tasks that take just 5-10 minutes within a day (if possible) so they are no longer looming over you. There are many time management workshops that could give you the skills you need to effectively manage your day.

A2a: I went to a fantastic workshop hosted by @TamiHackbarth on self-care for creatives, and she had us identify our big rocks, and then looking at the 24 hours in a day and prioritizing how to spend the time accordingly. #ContentChat

A2: One strategy that has helped me: If there’s something on my to-do list that I can knock out in 5-10 minutes, I do so. That way I have one less thing to juggle/take up mental capacity, and crossing things off my list is satisfying. #ContentChat

Take regular breaks from work to walk around, and regular exercise is an effective way to strengthen your mental health.

A2: I make an effort to stop and walk around when I’m getting too deep into the work. My body will tell me. If I’m totally hunched over the screens and squinting, it’s time for a break! Also doing exercise before work is helping tons. #contentchat

Balance your social interaction so it is not all work-focused. Use your team’s existing communications channels to invite conversation about positive news, pop culture, general life happenings, etc.

A2: Its a tough time for everyone that’s for sure. Balancing social interaction we are used to with work is especially tricky but we have morning stand ups via @zoom_us or Google Hangouts where we don’t talk about work, just connect as a team like we used to #ContentChat

A2: As a team, we’re trying to regularly share positive news about our daily lives. We’ve even created a Google Doc to collect it. Our CEO has also set up twice-weekly Zoom workouts with a personal trainer to make sure we’re getting up and moving during the day. #contentchat

Q3: From a marketing perspective, what are some things we can all agree to start and stop doing today that can help us from a self-care perspective?

There are common practices in our industry (and the general business world) that can deteriorate our quality of life. Things we can all do to promote better wellbeing: Stop apologizing for things that are out of your control.

A3a: As marketers, we can stop apologizing to other people for aspects of our day-to-day that are entirely out of our control. This includes when we are putting together Q1 reporting—we all need to be putting our results into the appropriate context. #ContentChat

Stick to your working hours. It can be easy to check emails early in the morning or late at night, but this time should be spent on personal interests, not work.

A3: I was just thinking this morning that I have got to stop rolling out of bed & checking my cell phone first thing. My phone’s my alarm, so it’s an easy habit to fall into, but I need to take the first 15-30 mins of the day to get into zen mode, not marketing mode. #contentchat

A3: – Choose when you’re going to check the news and only look in those times (I have two times and two sources I check every day.) – If you’re isolated with a partner or roommate, decide collectively when the work day is “over.” Eliminate productivity comparison. #ContentChat

Remember that you can provide value to your audience beyond selling them something. Marketers—and the companies they represent—often have a significant platform to speak from. During trying times, use this power to display empathy, provide value, and promote positive change.

A3) To start, we should all take this time to understand the soapbox we have to spread self-care tips and positivity. To stop, we need to not exploit our work or consumers for sales in this sensitive time #contentchat

A3b: As marketers, we can start finding new and creative ways to engage and interact with our customers, and be a helpful resource to them. Just b/c it isn’t a good time to focus on selling doesn’t mean you should go silent! #ContentChat

A3: Show the human side of your company that isn’t 100% sales focused. Everyone is hurting. Show everyone, clients, leads, past clients, etc that you care and don’t make it a #COVID19 generic ad/email. Just ask them how they are doing and show you care. #ContentChat

A3: Start acknowledging that everyone feels vulnerable right now. Keep that in mind and extend empathy and compassion whenever you can – and that includes through your marketing and content. #contentchat

A3: As marketers, we need to be even more mindful of the content we’re putting out. We need to be a helpful resource to our customers in a way that makes sense – and work with sales to make sure we’re aligned. #ContentChat

Stay flexible with client needs, and remember that success may need to be redefined as the scope of your work changes. If you only look at results or set goals that are too aggressive, you may constantly feel like you are underperforming despite the great strides you’ve actually made.

A3: As marketers: acknowledge each client’s possible need to completely re-set expectations. Expect to pull out a blank sheet of paper, and offer to do whatever works. Rinse and repeat weekly. #contentchat

A4 My own blog has been a good “resource.” I’m still keeping up with my Happiness Project, and trying to ID one thing every day that makes me smile. (See it at https://t.co/vcMmY8Pv3Q) Some days it’s harder than others, but … it’s important. #contentchat

A4: The book “Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness” by James Baraz has changed my life. It is all about developing healthy coping mechanisms, practicing mindfulness, and ultimately changing your thought pattern to focus more on the good. https://t.co/bCFbKjpHA6#ContentChat

Physical items like planners and whiteboards…

A4a: I’ve mentioned it before, but I have two @passion_planner physical planners that I use to set my goals for my consulting business and my food blog. Putting pen to paper and reviewing my goals is also a nice self-care break for me. #ContentChat

A4a: Organizing thoughts and tasks with @trello has been incredibly helpful. Also, all the various virtual ways we’re staying connected to one another. I’ve talked more with old friends in the last month than I have in the last 6 months! #contentchat

The community applauds these brands for their empathetic content—share your additions in the comments.

A5b: The folks at @Disney are doing an awesome job with new content for their community, but I am the most excited about the Dole Whip recipe. Unfortunately haven’t been able to make it yet b/c it’s been impossible to find vanilla ice cream! #ContentChat

A5c: You wouldn’t expect a brand to literally give away their trade secrets, but in a very real sense, that’s what the folks at my beloved @BreadSRSLY have been doing with their make-your-own-sourdough-starter video series. #ContentChat

.@badandbitchy is an intersectional feminist podcast that is a public service highlighting the issues of #COVID19 for marginalized communities often forgotten by MSM. They are providing relevant information and discussions of how to rebuild communities #notinmycolour#contentchat

A5: Lots of studios are doing classes that are free if you join live and for a small fee if you watch later. Restaurant groups are doing “cook with me” vids w/ their chefs, and I have three “concerts” on my list in the next 2 weeks. And of course, @DoubleTree . #ContentChat

A5: My most recent past employer, Korn Ferry, has done a great job with the content they’re sharing, mainly about leadership during crisis. They also launched a COVID-19 website in a matter of days. Impressive. #ContentChat